GAME NOTES: The 23rd-ranked Wichita State Shockers will put their undefeated
mark to the test on the road Thursday night when they travel to Knoxville to
take on the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Wichita State has risen in the national rankings after moving to 9-0 following
its 80-54 home win over Northern Colorado last Saturday. Other signature wins
for the Shockers have been at VCU (53-51) and versus Iowa to capture the
Cancun Challenge Championship (75-63). A win in this matchup would make them
10-0 for the first time in school history.

The 2012-13 campaign started off very well for the Vols, as they won four of
their first five games, with their only loss coming against Oklahoma State in
the semifinals of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off (62-45). Tennessee has fallen back
to 4-3 however, following back-to-back road losses against Georgetown (37-36)
and Virginia (46-38).

Wichita State has won both of the all-time meetings against Tennessee, most
recently downing the Vols, 80-73, in the second round of the 2006 NCAA
Tournament.

The Shockers have been impressive in all facets of the game through the first
month of the season, as they shoot 47 percent from the floor and hold their
opponents to just 38.3 percent, while putting together impressive scoring
(plus-14.6) and rebounding (plus-7.6) margins. The dominating play continued
in the 26-point victory over Northern Colorado, as they shot a lofty 55.6
percent from the field, including 12-of-24 from 3-point range. Pacing four
teammates in double figures was Cleanthony Early with 16 points. Nick Wiggins
drained 4-of-6 3-pointers from off the bench for 14 points, while Demetric
Williams scored 12 points and Malcolm Armstrong tallied 11 points and four
assists. Wichita State is used to getting a well-rounded effort, as seven
players average at least 5.0 ppg. Early leads the way with 13.9 ppg, while
Hall has been an imposing presence in the frontcourt with 13.1 ppg, 7.4
rpg, and 1.8 bpg.

Tennessee has been remarkably inconsistent through its first seven games, as
it scored an impressive 77.8 ppg in its four wins and a dreadful 39.7 ppg in
its three losses. The Vols were ice-cold once again in their eight-point loss
to Virginia, spoiling a great effort on the defensive end of the floor by
shooting just 28.8 percent from the field, including 3-of-19 from beyond the
arc. Trae Golden was the only player to score in double figures with 11
points, while Jarnell Stokes (five points) recorded nine rebounds, a block,
and a steal. Stokes (11.9 ppg) and Golden (11.6 ppg) are the only two UT
players to score double digits on a nightly basis, with Stokes leading the
team in field goal percentage (.561) and rebounding (7.9 rpg), while Golden
dishes out 4.6 ppg. Despite their offensive struggles, the Vols have held
opponents to just 57.0 ppg on 38.6 percent shooting (.237 from 3-point range)
and they commit less than 13 turnovers per contest.

Tennessee has won both of its home games this year, and with its stingy
defensive play, it should be able to keep this game close wire-to-wire.
However, the Vols' lack of scoring success is worrisome against a Wichita
State squad that has shown very few flaws in the early going.